Yulya Gron, a stay-at-home mom, had found herself making elaborate balloon decorations for her son’s second birthday party. She realized that she had a knack for balloon garlands. Gron started Cloud Nine Balloons to offer personalized balloon decorations for all types of events.
“What started as a hobby decorating birthday parties for my two sons quickly grew into a passion,” said Gron. “I discovered how much I love creating beautiful celebrations and helping people make their important moments feel extra special.”
“Whether you need a simple grab-and-go garland or a full event setup, I work closely with each client to create custom designs that fit their style, vision, and budget,” said Gron.
For more information contact: cloudnineballoons518@gmail.com
BALLSTON SPA — Local resident, Jennifer Comstock, is the new owner of Medbery Spa located on Front Street in Ballston Spa. She will celebrate its grand reopening on Friday, June 26, with a ribbon cutting.
After two decades in sales and manufacturing jobs with General Electrics and Regeneron, Comstock experienced burnout in her corporate roles. “I put my all into everything, I was looking for something more fulfilling,” said Comstock.
Comstock will take over the administrative tasks of the business and is looking to revitalize and offer new amenities at Medbery Spa.
New to the Spa is a new line of skin care products, Onda – meaning wave in multiple languages. The line was created in collaboration with skincare professionals and estheticians to focus on hydration, nourishment, skin barrier support, and healthy aging.
Also, the Spa will offer Tub Club, a monthly subscription where customers can enjoy a weekly mineral soak.
The water for the mineral soak comes from the San Souci Springs in Ballston Spa, only available at the Medbery Spa and Wiswall Park across the street.
“I would love for people to see a spa day as wellness and self-care rather than a treat,” said Comstock. “Taking care of yourself is not something to feel guilty about.”
Saints Win Section 2 Class C Title (Photo by Aidan Clark)
The reigning baseball Class C State Champions, Saratoga Central Catholic, won the Section 2 Class C title on Wednesday, May 27. The Saints only needed seven innings to beat Maple Hill in a 2-0 shutout win.
Runs from captains Luke Dejnozka and Pierce Bryne secured the win as Bryne’s pitching held the Maple Hill batters to only 2 hits all game. Highlights from the game include a double play by Joey Lindner in the first inning to get runners out at second and first. Second baseman Sandy McDonald made a spectacular sliding play on a ground ball hit to shallow right field just in time to get the runner out at first base in the third inning.
The Saints improved their record to 20-3 on the season and will play Chapel Field Christian in the regional championship round on Saturday, June 6.
Head Coach, Alphonse Lambert, in his 38th season is looking to lead the Saints to back-to-back State Championships. When Coach Lambert was hired in 1988, he was the youngest high school baseball head coach in New York State history at 22-years-old. Prior to Coach Lambert’s tenure, Saratoga Central Catholic baseball had never won a playoff game.
Boasting a 75%-win percentage over his reign as head coach, Coach Lambert’s appointment changed the trajectory of the Saint’s baseball program.
In 2000, Coach Lambert led the Saints to the Class C final but fell short to Falconer High School that day. Last year Coach Lambert and the players etched their name in Saint’s baseball history, winning the 2025 Class C State Championship. After getting over the hump, can the Saints repeat the feat?
Galway varsity softball won its first Section 2 Class C title on Saturday, May 30, their first section title since 1988. The top-seeded Galway Golden Eagles prevailed against the number two ranked Greenwich Witches in a 10-7 win. The Golden Eagles got over the hump this year to end their championship drought after falling short to Stillwater last year in the championship game.
Courtney Smith had a standout performance with four RBIs and one home run. At the mound, Emma Menge allowed only two earned runs throughout the game.
Galway softball continues their run to the State Championship on Friday, June 5 at 4:30 p.m. against Ticonderoga at Plattsburgh High School. Ticonderoga is going into this game with a 17-1 record, and Galway a 19-3 record.
The reigning Class AAA baseball champion, Saratoga Springs, defended their Section 2 title on Tuesday night, June 2. The series was tied going into game three, but a dominant performance from Shea Crotty on the mound allowed the Blue Streaks to outlast the Wolf Pack. Saratoga won 3-1 with Crotty only allowing 2 hits from the Colonie batters.
On Monday, June 1, Saratoga Springs Softball beat Shenendehowa to win the Section 2 Class AAA title. This is their third Section 2 title in five years. Saratoga came into this game as the fifth seed, ousting top seeded Shenendehowa 10-8. The Blue Streaks move onto the regional championship round, playing Cicero-North on Friday June 5, at Carrier Park.
The Saratoga Schools have pulled off a clean sweep as Saratoga Central Catholic, and Saratoga Springs baseball and softball have all won Section 2 titles.
Finale Performance (Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet)
“Cornfield” (Victoria Jones)
On May 31, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) hosted its ninth annual Festival of Young Artists (FOYA) inviting artists from around the Capital District to showcase their talents. SPAC’s education initiative is “rooted in the belief that the arts support wellbeing and strengthen connection. Our work is designed to foster creativity, confidence, and a true sense of belonging for individuals and families across our region.” FOYA gives students invested in the arts a chance to perform and connect with students across school districts.
This year’s FOYA theme was “Seasons,” students were given the prompt: “Nature moves through cycles of growth, transformation, reflection, and renewal, and so do we. Each season brings its own mood and meaning, shaping both the world around us and the landscapes within us.” Students were invited to submit visual, literary, and performing arts relating to the cycles of the seasons.
SPAC highlighted students across three disciplines of the arts with “outstanding awards.” Victoria Jones, Saratoga Springs High School, won the outstanding award for visual arts for her painting, “Cornfield” (pictured below). Fatemeh Sima Amiri, Shaker High School, won the outstanding award for literary art for her poem, “The Fifth Season.” The Capital District Arts Initiative won the outstanding award for performing arts for their dance “Epilogue.” To view the long list of submissions across all disciplines, go to spacfoya.org.
Student performances took place on the amphitheater stage and across tents set up across SPAC’s grounds. An art show exhibited digital, painted, and photography submissions. The festival culminated in a final performance on the amphitheater stage combining the Empire State Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Capital District Youth Chorale, Shenendehowa High School Choraliers. The performance featured a choreographed dance performance from the Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet. It was a beautiful display of the arts by students across the Capital Region.
SPAC School of the Arts offers opportunities for people of all ages to have access to the arts. Visit spac.org/education/school-of-the-arts/ for more information and to register for classes.
This summer at Siro’s guests will find a new addition to the menu, the “Golden Boy” burger for a mere 325 dollars. A Saratoga staple known for its upscale dining experience. The golden boy will be sure to attract patrons looking for an extravagant dining experience to commemorate their time at Saratoga Race Course.
The Golden Boy features a 16 oz A5 wagyu patty, topped with king crab mornay, and a gold flaked milk bread bun. New York State’s most expensive burger also comes with a side of truffle bacon jam tater tots.
Executive Chef, Noah Frese may be looking to make a splash with the Saratoga elites in his third season with Siros. Siros has built a reputation as the option for a luxury dining experience in Saratoga Spring throughout their 75-year history.
“Some days are meant to have an air of refinement and sophistication. Siro’s is here for you during those days” the website said.
It is not the most expensive burger sold in history, however, that record goes to Juicy Foods from Corvallis, Oregon. The burger weighed in at 777 lbs. and sold for 5,000 dollars back in 2011 according to Guiness World Records.
On Wednesday, May 27th Saratoga Central Catholic baseball won its second successive Section 2 Class C baseball title in a shut-out win against Maple Hill High School baseball. Runs from captains Luke Dejnozka and Pierce Bryne secured the win after seven scoreless innings from Maple Hill. The Saints improved their record for the season to 20-3 on Wednesday night.
Pitcher Pierce Bryne manned the mound for the game, holding Maple Hill batters to only 2 hits and 0 runs scored. Highlights from the game include a double play by Joey Lindner in the first inning to get runners out at second and first. Second baseman Sandy McDonald made a spectacular sliding play on a ground ball hit to shallow right field just in time to get the runner out at first base in the third inning.
Read next week’s edition of Saratoga TODAY for an in-depth dive into Saratoga Central Catholic baseball’s defense of their Section 2 Class C title.
Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth, dismissed by doctor, Ballston Lake resident fought long enough to be saved by miracle drug. (Courtesy of Erin Mark.)
Erin Mark— A Ballston Lake resident born with cystic fibrosis, a rare, life-limiting genetic disease. Doctors said she would not live past 18 years old. When she was five years old, she overheard her father speaking with a friend about her diagnosis. Even at five years old she understood the ramifications of the disease and promised herself to “cram as much joy in life as possible.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, cystic fibrosis affects the cells that make mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. These fluids are usually thin and slippery to protect the body’s internal tubes and ducts and make them smooth pathways. But in people with cystic fibrosis, a changed gene causes the secretions to become sticky and thick. The secretions plug up pathways, especially in the lungs and pancreas. Cystic fibrosis gets worse over time and needs daily care.
Throughout her life she was constantly on antibiotics; she eventually built up an immunity to oral antibiotics and needed IV antibiotics administered in a hospital. In 2017, when Mark was 33, she was entering into the late stage of the disease; her lungs were failing. In a doctor’s visit to talk about her options going forward, Mark was completely dismissed. Her doctor told her, “You should feel lucky for all the extra years you had.”
Mark left the doctor’s office feeling completely helpless and broke down in her car. But in that moment, she knew she had an obligation to herself. “I thought about that five-year-old girl, giving up wasn’t an option.”
She quickly looked for a second opinion and contacted all the cystic fibrosis doctors in her insurance network. She connected with Dr. Patrica Walker, a specialist in cystic fibrosis working at Mount Siani in New York City. Mark had a completely different experience with Dr. Walker. She recalls Dr. Walker telling her, “I can’t promise anything, but we’ll try everything we can, and I will never give up on you.” Mark said, “To hear her say I wouldn’t give up on you was a moment of relief.”
During this time in her life Mark was giving keynote talks about how to live a life without regrets. How growing up with a disease doctors said would eventually kill her gave her a unique perspective on life. She says, “I learned how to live because I learned how to die.”
Mark recalls during this time in her life being in the hospital weighing 79 lbs., not knowing if she would wake up to see tomorrow. She turned to set an alarm so she could wake up to eat before her next IV. She noticed that you could change the alarm name to wake up to and wrote “you woke up today.” A powerful reminder that tomorrow is not promised, you get another chance at life if you wake up.
However, because she sought out a second opinion, she was able to hold on until 2019 when a breakthrough drug, Trikafta, was approved by the FDA. The drug saved Mark’s life by changing how the gene works in her body. All of a sudden, she had a new prognosis and a newfound outlook on life. Instead of being grateful for all the extra years she already had, she awarded herself a new chapter in her life because she advocated for herself.
Mark now travels across the country, sharing her story at keynote talks about the importance of advocating for yourself. “I wouldn’t be alive if I didn’t advocate for myself” she told Saratoga TODAY. Listen to Mark’s powerful testament of advocacy in her new Ted Talk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjjPwKtEhOQ.
NYC Ballet Musicians and Friends (Photo by Luellen Abdoo)
A fundraising concert will be held at Bethesda Church on Thursday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m. Violinist Luellen Abdoo and Pianist Christopher Oldfather will be performing music of Mozart, Brahims, and Philp Glass. Proceeds will go towards the NYC Ballet Musicians & Friends chamber music concert on July 9, 2026.
A donation of 30 dollars for one, or 50 dollars for two people will be accepted at the door. Light refreshments will be provided starting at 6:30 p.m. before an hour-long musical performance.
This fundraising performance for the friends of the NYC ballet has been ongoing for the past 25 years. The NYC Ballet is celebrating 60 years at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center July 8-11.
